Democracy News

U.S. Seeks Election to UN Human Rights Council
By Heather Konjura
April 2, 2009 | Printer Friendly

According to a March 31, 2009, U.S. Department of State Press Release, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that the United States will seek a seat this year on the United Nations Human Rights Council, with a goal of working to make the Council a more effective body and to promote and protect human rights.  Secretary Clinton said that “Human rights are an essential element of American global foreign policy” and the Obama Administration believes that “every nation must live by and help shape global rules that ensure people enjoy the right to live freely and participate fully in their societies.”

U.S. Department of State Press Release writes that the Human Rights Council, an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 elected members whose mission is to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights globally, was established in March 2006 to replace the 1946 U.N. Human Rights Commission.  The next round of elections to the Council will be held in May and members will be elected to a three-year term.

The Obama Administration is taking a different approach to the UN Human Rights Council than the Bush Administration.  The Washington Post writes that the Bush Administration refused to join the Human Rights Council but initially agreed to fund it and be an observer, then completely withdrew, as the Administration felt the Council had an exclusive focus on human rights violations by Israel.  The Washington Post further writes that the U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and human rights advocates welcomed Clinton's announcement, saying U.S. membership would be beneficial.  Ms. Susan E. Rice, American Ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States shared other countries’ concern that the council’s work had been disturbing in recent years, yet “It should become a key forum for advancing human rights.”

References:

The New York Times – In Reversal, U.S. Seeks Election to U.N. Human Rights Council

The Wall Street Journal – U.S. to Join U.N. Rights Council

The Washington Post – U.S. to Seek Seat on U.N. Human Rights Council

U.S. Department of State – U.S. to Run for Election to the UN Human Rights Council